Tour de France – team doctor Gerald Ackerl: “You have to assert yourself in cycling”

You are a Berlin doctor and also brought some colleagues from the accident hospital in Marzahn to the Tour de France. How does such a medical crew get to the Belgian racing team Intermarché-Wanty?

I was a team doctor at the Israel Premier Tech team years ago and then came into contact with Intermarché. There are also one or the other German reference in the team: two professionals on the tour, Jonas Rutsch and Georg Zimmermann. Tobias Müller drives in the youth team. We also have a German bike company with Cube. When it comes to cycling, it is also advisable to look after decentrally. The drivers live scattered in Europe, you don’t necessarily have to sit in Belgium. Of course, we also have a Belgian doctor in the team to be able to clarify things on site quickly. It all works perfectly.

How does a team doctor prepare for the Tour de France?

The tour itself already has a great team of doctors, which is very experienced. There are seven emergency cars, a motorcycle, mobile X -ray devices at the finish line. This is really fantastic organized. We also have our equipment for the direct treatment of wounds, but above all for the therapy of wounds. Often the drivers have to cope with these wounds for several days.

What exactly do you have with you?

All possible different pavings and associations, including foam paving. These are all very high -quality things. In addition, ointments for all options, also against infections. You have to be ready for everything. We are often in areas in France, where it is very difficult to get to a pharmacy due to the entire daily routine. And you prefer to work with the equipment you know.

Interview

Tom Mustroph

Gerald Ackerl is at the Tour de France as a team doctor at the Belgian racing team Intermarché-Wanty. The Berlin doctor also looks after the basketball players from Alba Berlin and is full -time head of sports medicine in the Marzahn accident hospital. Tom Mustroph he gave an insight into the activities of a doctor on the tour of France.

Before the Grand Depart there was a meeting of team and racing doctors. What were the points that could become particularly important on this tour?

A lot of importance was placed on the subject of brain concealment. Every case must be reported to the World Association UCI. Heat was also a big topic – when at what temperatures the processes are changed up to the neutralization of the stage.

What options do you have to recognize the risk of concussion immediately after a fall, preferably when it is running?

There is a protocol from the UCI with very precise requirements, which are also specially designed for road cycling. You make a short findings immediately after the accident and then a bit delayed and in more detail later in the hotel room. According to this protocol and of course also one’s own clinical experience, the decision is then made whether the athlete can continue the race or whether we need imaging immediately, computer tomography.

How much time do you have in the race to make such a short assessment?

It all happens very quickly and only takes two minutes. There is no other way, otherwise the field is gone. This is also why a decision has to be made quickly.

What can you find out in these two minutes? What do you ask?

It is all about orientation: time and place. These are standardized questions, and then you can roughly assess whether there is really an urgent suspicion here.

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What criteria do you have to decide whether an athlete is so injured that he should not continue, even if he still wants it.

Cycling professionals come to a Grand tour with the clear goal of pulling it through to the end. I also look after the basketball players from Alba Berlin, there it is completely different. In cycling, you often have to prevail a little more, sometimes also decide a little against the will of the driver and say: So, that is simply no longer sensible. The value for the team may not be that big anymore when someone is heavily damaged. Then in a four -eye conversation you just have to tell the driver that he is now better focusing on what comes afterwards. The season continues for a long time after the tour and there are other destinations. And if you define other goals, it is usually well received.

The first stages of this tour are very intense and the risk of falling is also greater because of the narrow streets and side winds. How do you appreciate this and prepare for it?

I no longer let myself be made nervous. I watch this before every big tour and also have the impression that it is a bit of a media topic. Sure, it’s nervous, but that doesn’t change my equipment. I am so equipped here that we are over These 21 stages the drivers can look after well. In races like Paris – Roubaix, of course I pack a little more, now on the tour we have the same equipment as with us last year.